Convicted sex offender Roger Marlyn Hudnall was arrested by Eureka Police Department yesterday for PC 290.011(a) failure to register and HS11377(a) possession of meth Hudnall has various aliases according to the Megans Law website and looks different than the photo on that website.
There is a legal notice about Gallaghers Irish Pub Inc about a bulk transfer to Jasper Enterprises, LLC "on or after August 3, 2023." There are three different searches with a company in three different states but could not find a Mark Hill in either of the listings.
Analia Soledad Martinez was arrested by HCSO yesterday for PC 422 criminal threats, PC 148 (a) (1) resisting arrest and PC 273.6 (a) violating a restraining order. She posted bond. This isn't her first arrest for violating a restraining order. This while she is scheduled to get yet another plea after a slap on the wrist for previous conduct.
I did a detailed post in May on convicted molestor Mark Dare's appeal. Dare is now out of options. His petition for review was denied by the California Supreme Court. A remittitur was issued on 7/26.
Another win for survivors thanks to Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm. Also very gratefulJudge Kaleb Cockrum presided over this trial. I covered why in the last post and other coverage of my case.
July 2023 has been a good month with convicted molestor Mark Dare and convicted rapist Kailan Meserve losing their wasteful, cowardly attempts and they both can stay in prison where they belong.
Alderpoint homicide suspect Jake Combs' jury trial which was scheduled to start on 7/31 will start a day later on 8/1. I just did a post this Tuesday on why the trial was delayed. More details in trial assignment court minutes.
Christopher Judevine was arrested on 7/26 by Eureka Police Department for PC 148 (a) 1 resisting arrest and PC 243(b) battery on a peace or police officer. That battery was on hospital staff. I posted about that arrest. Jail log states Judevine was released to medical facility.
He was arrested again on 7/27 by Arcata Police Department for PC 148 (a) (1) resisting arrest, VC 20002 (a) hit and run and VC 23152 (f) driving under the influence of drugs. So far, Judevine is in custody.
In case you were wondering how Allen McCloskey's lawsuit against HCSO and DHHS for ICWA violations, malicious prosecution and other causes of action is faring in federal court, you can check out the filings and developments. Judge Robert M. Illman found Humboldt County's motion to dismiss as moot.
Based on the videos circulating online, the white truck involved in the July 25 reckless evasion incident and the location where the law enforcement took the man into custody combined with information circulating in the community, I am pretty sure I know the identity of this convicted felon.
Because the investigation is ongoing and due to any potential medical and pysch evaulations, let's see if and when a name are released. I heard the man is still in the hospital, on a 5150 hold and maybe there in the hospital for weeks due to his self inflicted injury.
I did a post on July 24 about a three year restraining order against Jason Belt . This post has court documents about the lawsuit regarding the car wash.
Once again the anonymous tipster followed through with a case number and specifics that were corroborated with court records.
"Cory Burrill was the driver. Jason Belt owner of NorCal Trucking is the negligent owner of the Truck that burned down the Car Wash. This lawsuit (CV2300545) is for over $800k in damages. Jason Belts NorCal Trucking fleet has failed several routine inspections…Try that in a small town."
The Public Defender's office has filed a motion to continue the preliminary scheduled for today for HCSO Lt. Sam Williams. He is charged with criminal threats and exhibiting a firearm. The alleged victim, Brian Edward Kelsey Jr. is William's wife's lover. Williams also has a family law case and administrative proceeding against him.
Miguel Angel Moreno was arrested yesterday by Fortuna Police Department on a Ramey warrant for PC 664/187 (a), attempted murder and PC 26100 (b) drive by shooting.
He has two traffic cases in the Humboldt Superior Court system. The 2023 case is open and the citation lists a Rio Dell address. The 2016 closed.
On July 25, 2023, at about 10:30 p.m., Officers with the Eureka Police Department responded to the 200 block of Dollison St. for the report that a man had threatened suicide, stated he had a firearm, and left in a vehicle while appearing to be under the influence.
By request of the Mayor and order of the City Manager, all flags at City facilities will be flown at half staff on Thursday, July 27th in honor of Leon Thomas Warmuth, founder of Leon’s Car Care Center in Eureka.
The last post I did about former assistant Humboldt Court operations manager Socorro Cervantes was in June 2020.Cervantes was booked by the Eureka Police Department June 13 for PC 647(f) drunk in public. She was arrested again on June 14, again by EPD for PC 647(f) and PC 148 (a) (1)resisting a peace officer. The DA has filed charges for PC 148 (a) (1) resisting a police officer and aggravated trespass in a 2023 case which was on for arraignment today. Cervantes failed to appear. Bench warrant issued for $5,000.
Christopher Robert Judevine was arrested by Eureka Police Department at 2:23 a.m. today for PC 148 (a) 1 resisting arrest and PC 243(b) battery on a peace or police officer. I asked if Judevine was the suspect in the 5th street incident.
EPD Crime Analyst Brittany Powell responded, "He is not he suspect in the 5th/N to Arcata incident. Judevine was arrested for battery on hospital staff."
Jared Wayne Collings arrested by CHP on July 21 for VC23152 (a)DUI VC 23152 (b) driving with blood alcohol level of 0.08% or more. He was released on O.R. Collings is a former court bailiff. His Facebook profile lists him as self employed.
Mistrial declared while jury selection was going on Courtroom 2 for Christina Carpenter. She had two cases, one 2021 case and one 2023 case on calendar.
Carpenter refused to come to court. Outside presence of jurors, Carpenter brought to court. Mistrial declared due to doubt. Complete waste of court and jurors' time. Criminal proceedings suspended. If defense doubted Carpenter's competency, this could have been done before trial.
As I wrote in my last post on rapist Kailan Meserve, I covered Meserve's rape case, every hearing in detail and the trial. I was the only one to do so. At that time, covering the trial was risky and unsafe.
I didn't need the trial relitigated and Meserve's current attorney's spin to know the facts. This writ of habeas corpus case was Meserve's way of still avoiding responsibility. I knew Meserve's writ of habeas corpus would be denied.
Alderpoint homicide suspect Jake Combs was scheduled to start yesterday. On 7/21, at trial assignment, Deputy Public Defender Ben McLaughlin said the Public Defender's office is researching a legal issue regarding representing Combs. Yesterday, no courtrooms were available and the case scheduled on trial assignment for 7/28. PD researching conflict issue in representing Combs. Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm is the prosecutor.
The public may never know what is in the personnel file but at least Michael Acosta got Associate Justice Stuart Pollak to do an in camera review of Matt Tomlin's file.
On 7/20, the DA filed a declaration and motion to continue the jury trial scheduled for Ray Christie next month. That motion is scheduled to be heard on 8/11, the same day as trial confirmation. Considering all the defense motions to continue that have dragged out this retrial of the 2018 case, the one request by the DA should be granted.
Thomas Vernon Harwood was arrested by HCSO yesterday for PC 182(a)(1) conspiracy, PC 236 false imprisonment, PC 459/461(a) first degree burglary and PC 211 robbery. Harwood posted bond. The arrest was following a dispatch to a cannabis farm in Miranda.
I did several posts on Harwood. The most recent one in 2022 was about him being the applicant in the complaint filed by County Planner against Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell. In 2020, I reported on the plea and case for Harwood, at that time, he was identified the owner of Redway Feed and Garden.
On July 23, 2023, at about 7:51 p.m., a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol in the Eureka area observed a vehicle fail to fully stop at a stop sign. The deputy conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle near the intersection of Harris Street and Sequoia Avenue, and contacted two adult males.
"Hello John, I feel the community would be interested to know that a 3x Fortuna business owner has been issued a three year restraining order for willingly and intentionally harassing a now 13 year old girl and her disabled father. Jason M. Belt, owner of CJ’s Fire Support (contracted wild land fire fighting company), Nor Cal Fire (fire truck repair shop), Nor Cal Freight (trucking company, responsible for burning down car wash in Fortuna), has been harassing a young 10 year old girl since April 2021. A three year restraining order has been issue to Belt ( (CV2300846)) on 7/12/2023. Belt refuses to surrender his firearms."
I did confirm that a restraining order was granted on 7/12. Court document filed by Jason Belt confirms he owns these three businesses.
I had reported back in May 2023 about the consumer alerts on local attorneys Michael Acosta and Victor Campos. As of July 1, Campos was suspended for failure to pay fees.
Campos is still appearing in court although he was recently replaced by a client and I have only seen Campos once in July. Word out on the street from people who know him is that his law practice is over in Humboldt. Humboldt Superior Court CEO Meara Hattan said, " The court is aware of Mr. Campos’ status."
I also sent an email to the California State Bar. An additional question I asked the State Bar was, "Is there any penalty and will the State Bar look into this?"
Mr. Rick Coca Senior Program Analyst (PIO), Office of Strategic Communications & Stakeholder Engagement responded, ""Thank you for your inquiry. By law, the State Bar cannot comment on whether or not it is investigating possible violations of the State Bar Act or Rules of Professional Conduct by any attorney. We do encourage you to continue to check this attorney’s profile page.
Speaking generally, any attorney who continues to practice law while suspended could be engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. See State Bar Act, Section 6126(b). "
Mario Avelar manages all of Ray Christie's properties. This according to testimony and documents in Ray Christie's 2018 court case and corroborated by community members in Arcata. Avelar will be a key witness in Ray Christie's 2018 case which is scheduled to go to trial, again, in August.
I received an anonymous tip about a 2023 case involving Avelar. The case text link has a lot of details including factual opinion and background. Open Range Beef granted $247,053.38 in lawsuit against Mario Avelar. The lawsuit alleged breach of contract and other claims.
Ryan Thomas Weinert was arrested by HCSO yesterday for PC 273.6 (a) violating a restraining order. He posted bond. The police report was rejected by the Humboldt County District Attorney's office and no charges were filed.
Jury in Pamela Millsap's case came back at 12:01 p.m. Instead of a verdict on all counts, jurors were t Judge Kaleb Cockrum they were deadlocked on Count 1. After polling the jurors, he told them to continue deliberations.
2:10 p.m. The jury is deadlocked on Count 1 voluntary manslaughter. They have a verdict on other counts. In a few minutes, verdicts will be read. Millsap was remanded into custody on a no bail status.
Trial confirmation for Count 1 only is scheduled for 8/10; jury trial on 9/11.
The jury hung 10 for guilty-2 on the voluntary manslaughter count. Guilty on the child abuse + gun charge and great bodily injury against Millsap's son Christopher. Guilty on child abuse and gun charge against Jane Doe.The jury did not find true any of the alleged aggravating factors. As I reported previously, the amended information filed now identifies Millsap's son by his name.
Jurors started deliberation on 7/19 in the afternoon. This is deja vu of the Sergio Lozano trial. In the last few months, there seems to be a few trials with spilt verdicts, with close spilt verdicts or jurors deadlocked on special allegations.
Less than a year into the job Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation Executive Director David Reed has left his position for family reasons. The Foundation will be announcing their search the position shortly. The press release issued at 12:32 p.m. has been added to the post.
The Commission on Judicial Performance has publicly admonished Judge Lillian Vega Jacobs of the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Convicted sex offender Eli Grover Aubrey was arrested by Arcata Police Department yesterday for PC 290.011(a) transient sex offender failure to register and PC 290.012(a) sex offender failure to register. He has a 2003 conviction for PC 288 (c) (1).
Voluntary manslaughter suspect Pamela Millsap jury trial closing arguments started today and are still going on right now. Yesterday, defense rested.
Closing arguments concluded today. People to give rebuttal tomorrow morning. Jury deliberations started 7/19 in the afternoon.
After agreeing to a settlement in one of the lawsuits against him for breach of contract, Joseph Mazzotti "went missing in action." Wallace and Hinz's attorney had to request a continuance. A case management conference is scheduled for 8/25.
Nicholas Justin Hobart Brown was scheduled to be arraigned last Friday. He is charged with charged Brown with Count 1 criminal threats and a special allegation that he used a firearm in the commission of a felony; Count 2 false imprisonment and Count 3 battery on a cohabitating partner.
At 6:50 a.m. this morning, right in front of the Redwood Nails and Spa and next to the fire station near this intersection on Myrtle, a man was screaming threats. "I know the law, I am going to kill you" and "I don't want your money, I want you dead." He yelled curse words including the derogatory "b" word that seems to be the choice of the limited vocabulary of hate hurled by local crazies and bigots.
On July 17, 2023, at about 12:20 a.m., a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol in the area of U.S. Highway 101 south of Trinidad conducted a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle unable to maintain its lane.
Vaughn Jones who was arrested for setting Kenneth Edward Dale Lynn on fire was arraigned yesterday for Count 1 PC 205 aggravated mayhem, Count 2 PC 206 torture, Count 3 PC 664/187 (a) attempted murder and two special allegations for Count 3 PC 12022.7 and PC 667 (b)- (i). Public Defender appointed. Preliminary hearing scheduled for 8/29.Bail was set by Judge Steven Steward at $750,000. His 2022 case to coincide.
Suspect arrested yesterday for the second stolen vehicle incident this weekend was arrested last year hiding in the Samoa Dunes.
I reported in June that two Humboldt Superior Court Judges are up for re-election this year. Three Humboldt County Supervisors positions are up for grabs. First District Supervisor Rex Bohn, Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell and Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson. I contacted Humboldt Elections Administrative Analyst Christina Strevey for deadlines.
